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Why a Partial Day Program May Be Right for You

Chris WitteApril 19, 2016

Nobody ever intends to become addicted to alcohol or drugs. Substance abuse is a very slippery slope, a habit of which it’s exceedingly easy to lose control. There are many individuals who begin abusing alcohol or drugs as a means of self-medicating physical or psychological pain such as a physical injury or due to being a victim of prior abuse. Others begin abusing alcohol or drugs because substance abuse runs in their families. No matter why a person begins abusing mind-altering substances, the behavior inevitably becomes less and less within one’s control, causing a person to act in opposition to his or her best interests.

Although it’s a serious illness with many profound effects, addiction is a treatable condition from which virtually anyone could recover with the right mentality and resources. There’s not one particular way of achieving sobriety that’s right or will work for everyone; instead, recovery requires a person to find the treatments and therapies that best address one’s recovery needs, allowing the individual to regain his or her lost self-control and begin making healthy productive choices. However, there are a variety of addiction treatment programs available, which can be confusing for those who aren’t completely sure of their needs or aren’t aware of the differences between the several types of recovery programming. Therefore, the following will define partial day treatment programs, explaining what makes them different from other types of programming while describing instances in which a partial day program might be the right choice for one’s particular needs.

What Exactly is a Partial Day Treatment Program?

Most addiction treatment programs exist on a spectrum that ranges from outpatient to inpatient or residential programming. Inpatient programs require that the patient reside in the facility for the duration of the program, making this type of programming the most intensive form of treatment that’s currently available. The problem with inpatient programs is that they’re not the most flexible programs; for individuals who are trying to maintain their jobs or who have familial obligations such as caring for children will likely be unable to live in a treatment facility for weeks or months while participating in treatment. However, outpatient programs — a form of treatment in which the patient commutes to the facility for each day’s treatments rather than living on-site for the duration of the program — are widely considered to be less effective because they don’t offer alcohol- and drug-free environments or continuous monitoring and care.

A partial day program is a form of outpatient treatment that offers a more intensive treatment curriculum than most outpatient programs. Individuals in partial day programs will typically commute to their rehabilitation facilities up to five days per week for up to six hours of treatment each day. Although facilities that offer partial day treatment don’t need to offer residential accommodations, they often have extensive medical resources for patients who benefit from being monitored most days of the week. In effect, partial day programs offer much more care and supervision than other forms of outpatient treatment.

Benefits of a Partial Day Program for Addiction

There are many benefits of partial day programs that individuals won’t get from most other types of recovery programming. One of the main benefits of partial day treatment programs is that it offers significantly more flexibility, allowing individuals with inflexible commitments to incorporate their recoveries into their existing schedules. Moreover, since partial day programs are more flexible, they’re also more accessible; with addicts frequently feeling intimidated by long-term inpatient programs, partial day treatment will feel more achievable, less like a shock, and will likely make addicts who are reluctant to pursue recovery more likely to enroll in a program.

Another important benefit of partial day programs is that they offer nearly an inpatient level of treatment intensity in an outpatient format. Individuals for whom outpatient treatment is the only option are still able to receive a high-quality, intensive program that’s nearly on par with inpatient programming by enrolling in partial day treatment. Additionally, since partial day programs offer more monitoring and care, they’re highly beneficial to those who have a comorbid, or co-occurring, mental disorder; while attending treatments on most days of the week, these individuals can have their symptoms monitored by professionals who can adjust make whatever treatment adjustments are necessary in order to provide the most effective dual-diagnosis support.

In short, partial day programs are ideal for individuals who could only complete an outpatient program, but who require a more intensive level of treatment than could be offered by most outpatient programming. Partial day treatment could almost be considered the best of both worlds in that it’s flexible and accessible while consisting of similar evidence-based treatments, counseling, psychotherapy, group sessions, and supplemental offerings as an inpatient program.

Let Recovery Hub Help You Achieve Long-Lasting Sobriety

Finding the right treatment program for one’s specific needs can be a very daunting, even overwhelming process. That’s where we come in. At Recovery Hub, our mission is to help every addict find the programming that will allow him or her to achieve long-lasting health and sobriety. If you or someone you know would like a free consultation and assessment, call Recovery Hub 888-220-4352. Whether it’s day or night, one phone call to one of our recovery specialists will allow you to begin the journey to a more fulfilling life free from addiction.